I need help with a graphics card

[Guest]

I need some help in deciding what graphics card I should get because I'm
completely useless at graphics cards.
Which one should I buy (considering I have a 1GB of RAM.):
NVidia 5600XT for £20
RADEON X700 256MB AGP for £102.21
RADEON 9250 128MB AGP for £30.54
RADEON 9600SE 128MB for £48.16

You don't have to answer the next question as well but it would help,
thanks. My next question is if the "RADEON X700 256MB AGP" is the best is
there anywhere I can get it cheaper? Thanks. Hope to hear from someone soon.
Thanks again.

 

[Guest]

To really answer your question neo, it would help if I knew what type of
things you do on your computer, do you play games ? render images ? just use
office ?

The more memory the better but then again I like NVidia cards, so I would
choose a high end NVidia card not ATI but thats just personal preference.

It all really depends what you use your computer for ?

Andy W

 

[Guest]

Andy is right but wait there is more...... don't you just hate that?
I have both Radeon and Nvidia, my point is simple and may save you some
money. Regardless if you play games or do photos etc, if you have a cheap
monitor that doesn not have a High Resolution or a fine pixel count, then you
wouldn't notice the difference regardless. If you have a LCD you will also be
limited, most card perform the best with a CRT High Resolution Monitor.
I have the ATI All In Wonder 9800 Pro 256 mb in a computer with a
moderately priced .26mm Monitor and Max Resolution is about 1600 by whatever,
far cry from the 2000 plus ability of the ATI. My newer computer has hte
256mb Nvdia 6600 GT with a seperate Tuner card and it is hooked up to a LCD
Monitor and my max res is about 1200 by whatever. It looks good I play some
games and do work on Photos but something else you will need to keep in mind.
WYSINWYG Monitors and Printer output varies, so if you are working with
photos, not always what you see on the monitor is what the printer will
print. So unless you plan on puttingsome money in your monitor and your card
and you want to play games on a very expensive system, go with a moderate
price card. You may upgrade your monitor someday but unless you also have at
least a 300 watt power supply in your system, you will probably have to
upgrade your Power supply as well. There are TWO sizes make sure you get the
one that will fit and the screws will line up proper. There are dual fan
power supplies and you need to know the deminsion sof the one youhave and how
much room is in your CPU and will the fans be facing in the right direction
etc etc. been there done that and had to cut and rivet.
Good Luck

My opinion only I paid $399 for the ATI a little more tha a year ago and I
got the Nvidia for less and with the two systems, I can barely tell the
difference. Over a stock card BIG difference.

 

[antioch]

Hello Neo
Its like asking the question 'How long is a piece of string'
Some brainy mathematician worked it out to be just over 6 inches???????????
Andy & Craig have I think answered as best they can on the limited info you
have given.
But the subject can be very involved and complicated, and a full explanation
could go on for pages and pages. The choice is vaste due to the fact that
with just nVidia and Radeon alone there must be dozens of different
manufacturers/partners for just about every model range available.
For example, the list have given does not mention any manufacturer/partner
i.e.
Chaintech,Gig,Sapphire,Inno,Msi,Ge Cube,Power Colour,Ati,His,G-Force just to
name few off the top of my head. All have different
specs/functions/performances.
If you are into Flight Sim I can direct you to various forums,discussion
groups etc.
For anything else, it would be imprudent of me to advise or suggest.
In the last 12 months I have built(with some help) two rigs, with FS solely
in mind and nothing else.
I asked a similar question about 18 months ago.
6 out of 10 said:
What you want it for; what are your current specs; how much do you have to
spend????
And they all said, 'after that do some research'
It took me nearly 2 months.
I would try for a Radeon Sapphire 9800pro, rather than the 9600.
Monitors are another ball-game altogether. Its a case of what do you want
to use it for?
I have read some very heated arguments in forums etc re which is best.
Me, I am sticking with large CRT's till they get good TFT etc with low ms.
rating and a lower price. But if you aint got the room for CRT then it has
to be TFT.
If you fancy a few weeks of research, let me know.
Rgds
Antioch
'You cant educate pork'

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help anyway. I'll be honest I don't know much about graphics
cards at all, as you've probably guessed. I'd use it to play games. Like I
said in my original post I have a 1GB of RAM. I was just wondering which is
the best considering price?
Here they are again:
NVidia 5600XT for £20
RADEON X700 256MB AGP for £102.21
RADEON 9250 128MB AGP for £30.54
RADEON 9600SE 128MB for £48.16

Can you help me with this?
Neo_deciple

 

[antioch]

Hello Neo
I knew nothing about GPU's either. That is why I researched them.
Another consideration is will a new GPU go with your motherboard.
As Craig mentioned, power is important - in your choice I would say you need
minimum
300w, poss. 350w
Join a gaming forum like below-its free and so is the advice.
Give them your full specs, what sort of games you want to play etc.
I am sure you will get advice - but in addition, you can look through the
forum site and see what others have for their systems as most of them show
their rig details. You can do that without joining!
You might get a few remarks about your choices being 'built at the time of
the ark', but dont be put off by that.
Good luck
Antioch
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=28&threadid=1747374&enterthread=y
PS
Search Google for gaming forums - that will turn up a few.
OR Closer to home
Try any or all of the msnews.microsoft.public.games newsgroups and ask them.